Tats Are Beautiful

That's why I like drawing them. Here are a few really quick sketchy designs I'm working on. From my sketchbook so funny, unprofessional scans, also some are drawn on greaseproof paper. Again, experimeting with different transparent, flesh like surfaces to draw on. Some are more finished than others and there are still afew that I want to yet put up...

Helen

Finished 27.10.10. This wasn’t meant to look like Helen (the old Helen with longer purple hair) but kind of does J

Unsure if I like the tattoo art. I was going for a different spin on the gypsy head. With more attention to detail on the shading then maybe this would be more successful. However, good experiment with material. The support is PVA glue layered to make a skin effect with acrylic design.

Not entirely sure if I like this piece. It was very hard to paint on the PVA. I had to do a lot of coats to keep the paint from showing up any brush strokes. I do like the effect with the PVA glue though. It crinkled when it dried so looks like sagging skin J ....beautiful.

Shaun the Sheep

From the experiments with acrylic on latex, I decided to cast a skull in the same material. It took me three days but was a very successful three days as I am very pleased with the final result J. Photos show the whole process.

I didn't really want the skull to be seen as a ram skull. I got the skull cheap off of ebay and wanted horns in the cast, which is why I got a ram. I put my own stamp on the design by filling in certain areas with plasticine and keeping areas of the skull with a lot of detail clean.

I plastered the whole skull in nine pieces. Drilled two holes (one for filling with latex, one for emptying) and layered three coats of latex into the cast.

The final latex cast is obviously very floppy. It has kept its shape however which is one element I was slightly worried about. Also unsure wether I should cut the rugged seems off or wether this adds an interesting effect. Waiting for a tutorial to discuss these issues with my tutor.

Trying to think of different ways in which to display the skull, that will support its aesthetics in the most interesting way. Maybe hung from the wall to display the floppy, skin like qualities?

I would like to try out other skulls in the same process. See how they all look together, for example a bird skull and incorporating my own design even further onto the skull. They may also make for unusual tattoo designs. As it was such a long process, I don’t want to ruin it so I am waiting until I have designed some really good tattoos to put onto the skull in acrylic.

Latex Tats

These are the most recent additions to my studio space.

Latex ‘skin’ with acrylic tattoos.

Just an experiment but I think a very successful experiment. Want to do a much larger scale latex/tattoo design, maybe to fill a huge wall space.

Tomorrow I’m casting a ram’s skull. Again I think I’ll do it in Latex, with the same idea of tattooing with different tattoo designs in acrylic.

Bride of Chucky...

This is the art work that scares my lovely friend Helen every time she comes into the studio… J

Tattoos on a doll. Inspiration from Dr Lakra. The pen hasn’t worked very well so some of the tattoo designs aren’t that great. Planning to paint this when I get around to it. Also adding more designs so that the whole baby is covered.

Martin...

Painting with acrylic on scrap wood.

Unfinished. Still to add an ‘Oxford University’ coat of arms on the side of his cheek, to give reference to that part of his past.

I have also been researching the types/ages of people who have tattoos and although the man in the picture would never have a tattoo on his cheek, it’s not something that is too unusual.

I feel that tattoos to many people are seen as rebellious and are mostly covered up for ‘important’ occasions such as interviews. I wanted the piece to look rugged, to match the aura of the painting. I plan to display the painting screwed to the wall with large, industrial screws.

Finished these today (27.10.10) ... Not sure I am entirely happy with how the tattoo turned out. Would rather it be a little lighter maybe. May alter this if I have enough studio time. The Tattoo is an Oxford University tattoo, distorted to give a wrapped effect around the cheek.

Sketches

These sketches show tattoos on people with images that best show their personalities/interests.

I want the sketches to question whether or not the images/tattoos should be on these people.

I feel that some of the logos/tats etc don't best fit to the contours of the body in places, however can be developed for later paintings.

Also produced some collage photographs, sketching tattoos onto friends and family. I chose mainly their interests to decorate their skin, such as football, music etc.